National Aviary is focusing on some remarkable flyers this summer and introducing visitors to a new feathered friend.
Located in Pittsburgh’s North Side, the Aviary recently launched Remarkable Raptors, an entertaining and educational look at birds of prey, presented by S&T Bank.
There are new seasonal Daily Activities, add-on opportunities, summer-only encounters and interactive play spaces.
The National Aviary is building off last season’s successful “Nesting in Nature” seasonal theme, which attracted thousands of visitors.
From the Memorial Day kickoff weekend, “we’re super excited to captivate audiences,” said Aviary Senior Content and Communications Manager Becca Hansborough-Stoudt.
“Raptors are really important, but kind of the underdogs of the birding community. People may not truly understand how much they benefit our environment,” she continued. “They help us maintain a healthy and diverse ecosystem, eating rodents and other small animals. They are indicators of our environment.”
Summer offerings
One of the ways visitors will learn about raptors is through “Royal Raptors: Expert Talk,” a program offered daily at 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. in Condor Court and included with general admission.
The differences between bald eagles and other birds of prey, like Andean condors, will be detailed by an Aviary expert. People will also discover other residents, including a pair of laughing kookaburras.
For a more immersive experience, Fierce in Flight is offered daily at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. in the Helen M. Schmidt FliteZone Theater.
It is an add-on experience featuring Black Kites, Hooded Vultures, crows and a Lanner Falcon. Some may even get an opportunity to participate in the show. Cost is $5.
In the immersive show, birds fly around overhead and attendees can feel the wind created by the birds’ wings.
Those looking for a more intimate experience may want to purchase tickets to the “Falcon Flighted Friend” encounter shown daily at 2 p.m. in the FliteZone Theater.
Patrons will have an opportunity to have a falcon and another animal ambassador fly and perch on their gloved hands.
The Flamingo Feeding encounter is back by popular demand. Offered at 10:30 a.m. Friday through Sunday, it gives patrons a chance to take a seat in the Aviary’s Wetlands beach as the colorful birds wade closer for a meal.
All Animal Encounters are add-on experiences and can be booked in advance at the Aviary’s website.
Children’s activities
Aviary staffers also created new interactive play spaces for the younger bird fans.
Kids can grab a falconer’s glove and practice handling plush raptors at the Junior Falconer station. They can hunt and forage just as a raptor would at the Remarkable Raptors sensory table.
The Remarkable Raptors Book Nook is a space for learning more about the amazing flights, hunts, and species of raptors. The area provides an excellent opportunity for kids to use their imaginations and take a break from the live action.
Hansborough-Stoudt said seasonal programming would not be possible without generous support.
“Our entire mission is to protect birds and their habitats,” she said. “It’s really important for us to have the support of organizations like S&T Bank to make that happen.”
New tenant
This summer also features the debut of Dariéna (Dare-EE-awn-ă), a female juvenile Harpy eagle hailing from the Miami Zoo, a fellow Association of Zoos and Aquariums accredited institution.
Dariéna got her name from Eastern Pennsylvania couple Brian and Sandra Moroney through the Aviary’s Name-A-Bird program.
“Her name is one that is truly close to our heart,” the Moroney family said. “She is named in memory of Sergio Seipke, a former Hawk Mountain trainee. In the early 2000s, he led us on an unforgettable birding trip throughout the Darién Province of Panama, and after combining those two words, we knew we had the perfect name for this beautiful eagle.”
Officials said the 1-year-old awe-inspiring raptor will be highlighted in daily educational talks. Visitors will learn fun facts about her and other eagle species found around the world as well as Aviary’s international raptor-related conservation efforts.
The new offerings were crafted by staffers led by Cathy Schlott, Director of Animal Programs and Experiences.
She wants visitors to know, although many raptors are at risk in the wild from ongoing challenges caused by human activity, there are individual actions everyone can take that help make a difference.
“Reducing use of harmful chemicals such as pesticides can truly go a long way to help us protect raptors and other birds of prey,” said Schlott. “Plus, just by making a visit to the National Aviary this summer, guests are directly supporting our efforts to conserve these species and their natural habitats.”
“Raptors help maintain the ecological balance of their environment by controlling the populations of rodents and other small animals. They also serve as an indicator species, educating us on the health of ecosystems. So, it is incredibly important that we shine on a light on them and that is what our new seasonal theme is all about.”
For a full lineup of Daily Activities, and to learn about the National Aviary’s ongoing conservation efforts, visit aviary.org.
National Aviary: 700 Arch St., North Side, 412-323-7235, aviary.org. Summer hours are daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission is $20.95 for adults, $18.95 for seniors, $17.95 for children, free for 2 and under. Memberships provide admission for the year as well as discounts on animal encounters, gift shop purchases, and more.
